Means for coupling trailers to a tractor



1933. c. H. LAND ET AL 1,895,762

MEANS FOR COUPLING TRAILERS TO A TRACTOR Filed March 3, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l z fiat Z lnm zniordf By MM 2/. MM

2 i Attorney Jan. 31, 1933. c H, LAND ET AL MEANS FOR COUPLING TRAILERS TO A TRACTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed, March 3, 1952 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIb I n I I n I 'IIII'IIIIIII'IIIII VIII/[1111111 n a noimal position with the brakes set ready for Patented Jan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATIENT oFFicEg CHARLES H. LAND, or enossn roman; nun WILLIAM .H. w Lsoiv, "or person,

. ICHIGAN l MEANS F03 COUPLING TRAILER S TO A TRACTOR Application filed March 3,

This invention relates to'means for coupling trailers to a tractor and has for is object an improved automatic coupler for this purpose.

7 i A further object of the invention is to promaining set 'until released by "another coupling operation.

A further ob'ect of this invention is to provide acooperating lock and brake mechanism,

combined with an auxiliary brake releasing 5 device, that may be used when the lock is in a retracted position with normally set brakes. lVith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description pro- 7 ceeds, the invention further resides'in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed without departing from the spirit of the same.

In the drawings accompanying this specification: I V

Figure 1 is a plan View of a trailer showswinging leg-controlling mechanism in coupling to a hauling vehicle.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a trailer coupled to a tractor,'a fragmentary end of the latter being shown,with the swinging sup- 7* I o I porting legs of the trailer inraised position.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary side elevation of a tractor and trailer, showing the fifth wheel of the tractor tilted,carrying an upstanding king-pin about to enter into coupling relation with thetrailer.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the tra ler shown in Figure 1, with;

. parts broken away to more clearly disclose the operation of the locking latch for engag-' 5Q ing the coupling king-pin of the tractor,-'

1932. Serial No. 596,519.

also means "for retaining the locking latch in unlocked position until automatically re leased by the entry ofthe king-pin in the spiral groove of. a driving shaft carriedby Figure 6is an enlarged fragmentaryfview of the trailer showing theking-pin offthe tractor as it bears upon theswinging' 'pawl toconipress the locking latch and to addition ally set the brake mechanism,upon releas ing the tractor from the trailer. i i

Figure 7 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of theswinging leg and latch locking and controlling mechanism. of the trailer, showing the king-pin ofthe tractor forc ng back the rocking springactuated dog,

controlling the release 'ofthelockingflatch,

upon entering into couplingrelation with the trailer. v f '1 Figure 8 is a detail view in vertical cross section of the swinging pawl mechanism,'con trolling the king-pin'latch lock and brake setting mechanism. I I FigL1re 9is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on or aboutline9"9 of'Figur'e "7, showing a fragmentof the fifth wheel of a tractor, with the end of the king-pin extend ing into the groove of the helical shaft con trolling the operation ofthe swinging leg mechanism of the trailer. r

Referring now to the reference placed upon the drawings: I

A denotes a trailer and Z the rear end of atractonf ofthe. trailer. B B denote plates riveted flanges of the y to, the'lower side channel members 'A fA characters v extending to theforward end of the trailer at which point the plates are bent upwardly formi-ng' arc-shaped skids B ,}we'lded toth'e front cross-member D.

' platesBB.

E E indicate throat plates welded to the 'F indicates an'angle member, rivetedto the forward end member of the frame.

G G denote bearings for a spirally grooved driveshaft H. '1 denotes a wedge-shaped locking latch slidable in a housing J, attached to the plate B, and fitted with a removable cover plate K. t

j -N denotes a pull-rod screwed into the end of the latch-bolt I, and extending through the latch housin ,a hole in the frame,

' and a lug on the bracket P, attached. to the i bracket P frame.

Yoked to the pull rod N, is a bell :crank lever Q, pivoted at O in a yoke of the S denotes a removable pin for connecting the bell cranklever Q with the pull-rod N, through a plurality of spaced holes, respec-- tively adapted to receive the removable connecting pin S for settingthe brake and the retraction ofthe latch.

T denotes a transverse stop pin to retain the lever Qgthat' it may not be accidentally released from the pull rod N.

'U denotes'a cable fitted at eachend with yokes V respectively connected with the bell lever IQ- is pulled sufficiently to slide overlthe beveled end of The'lock is thus held in a retracted posi- V crank lever Q, and a rock shaft R, journaled in the frame of the machine.

W W are brake rods connecting therock shaft R with suitable braking mechanism W W not shown in detail.

.X is an expansion spring coiled around the shaft N,located between, and bearing respectively against the latch and the end of its housing. i

' 1 L'denotes a swingingpawl pivoted atL to the plate B, consisting of a cylindrical housing Lflibored to receive" the pawl-bolt L The pawl-bolt L is recessed toreceive a coiled spring M is apin to'limit'the outward thrust of the pawl bolt by the sp n The f'num'eral 1 denotes the upstanding king-pin ofa tractor mounted on a tilting table or fifth-wheel Z in turn pivoted to bracket fixtures Z secured to the rear end of, the tractor.

Having now indicated the several parts by reference characters, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood:

' 'It will firstbe assumed that the tractor and trailer are in coupled relation and that it is desired to release or 'uncouple the tractor from the trailer ;-jto accomplish this, the

latch I toa position where the spring actuatedbolt .L of theswinging pawl L may the latch. 7

tion that the tractor may be disengaged'from the trailer. It will .be noted that the swing} to retract the causinga slight increase in the brake setting action,desirable-.when the tractor is get-, ting under headway to lower the supporting legs of the trailer. After the king-pin has passed the latch I, the, swinging pawl L still retainsithe locking latch 'its' previously. V

retracted position.

At the time the-lever Q is pulledto: release the tractor, the bell-crank end ofthe lever moves from the dotted posit-ion indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6 to the full line position, therebysetting the so-called parking brakes,-coinci dently with the release of the locking latch 'I,which are thus differentiated ,from the usual shown.

power "brakesnot Upon the withdrawal of the tractor, theup- A standing drive pin 3 of the king bolt rotates the helical shaft tolowerthe supporting legs of thetrailer in a manner well understood in this art.

When it is desiredtocouple the trailer to a tractor, the tractoris backed under the trailer in the usual manner, whereupon theupstand-J ingking-pin l'enters the side flares E E at the throatof the trailer. t

" Upon swinging the trailer into'proper alignment, the projecting rim 2 of the kingpin overlaps the upright edges of the guides E E ,see Figure 9,b0unding the channel extending inwardly from the flaringthroat. This prevents the trailer jumping verticallyofut ofposition before the drive pin 3 enters the straight longitudinal end; of the spirally grooved drive shaft. H. Thefdrive pin upon.

entering thespiral portion of the groove rotates the shaft and asthei king-pinreaches and is abouttolenterthe straight groove at the end of its travel, it engages the bolt L of the swinging pawl L,- see Figure 7. which normally projectsa; short distance into the channel. i

a The spring actuated bolt L of the swinging pawl L cannot project further into the path of the king-pin due to the stop pin M see Figure e8 it is howeverforced back against the action of the spring X by theinward thrust of the king-pin 1,when thelatter is about'to enter into'coupling relation with the trailer, thereby releasing the wedgeshapedf:

locking latch I from the'con'trol of the pawl.

I As the king-bolt passes the end of the lockinglatch, thelatter' is shot outwardlyby the spring X, locking theking boltof the tractor in coupling relation with the trailer as intractor is locked by the latch in coupled relation with the trailer and that the parking brakes are also released as indicated by the position of the brake lever Q, in dotted lines in Figure l.

, Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:

1. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, a king-pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the king-pin of the tractor into coupling relation with the trailer; a

spring actuated latch carried by the trailer adapted to lock said king-pin in coupling relation with the tractor; means for retracting said latch; a spring actuated pawl proj ecting into thepath of the king-pin adapted to overlap the end of the latch when'retracted; a brake mechanism for the trailer; and means whereby the brake set maybe increased and then partially released by the thrust of the king-pin upon the swinging pawl and latch in efi'ecting an uncoupling engagement between the tractor andtrailer.

2. In an automatic coupling means for trac-. tor-trailers, a'king-pin carried by the tractor; means carriedby the trailer toreceive and guide the king-pin of the tractor into coupling. relation with the trailer; a spring actuated latch carried by thetrailer adapted to lock said king-pin in coupling relation with the tractor; means for retracting said latch; a spring actuated swinging pawl projecting into the path of the king-pin adapted to overlap the end of the latch whenretracted; a brake mechanism for the trailer; means for setting said brake; and means for increasing the breaking set of the brake mechanism 'actuated by the thrust of the king-pin on the swinging pawl and by the pawl through the latch, in effecting a release from the coupling relation of the tractor with the trailer.

3. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, a king-pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the king-pin of the tractor into coupling relation with the trailer; a spring actuated latch carried by the trailer adapted to lock said king-pin in coupling relation with the tractor; a manually operated bellcrank lever connected with said latch; a spring actuated swinging pawl projecting into the path of the king-pin and adapted to overlap the end of the latch when retracted by the lever; a brake mechanism for the trailer; and means connecting said brake mechanism with the bell-crank lever, whereby the thrust of the king-pin on the swinging pawl and through the latch to the bell-crank lever;

in effecting a release from the coupling rela-' tion of the tractor with the trailer; rocks the bell-crank lever and thereby increases the brake set. I

l. In an automatic couplingmeans for tractor-trailers, a semi-trailer equipped with legs movable to support the end of the trail-.

er when detached fromthe tractor and to a non-supporting position when coupled to a tractor; a king-pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive .and

guide the king-pin into coupling relation with the tractor; a spring actuated latch carried by the trailer adapted to lock said kingpin in coupling relation; a manually operated bell-crank lever connected with said springactuated latch; a brake mechanism; a

rock shaft; a rod connecting said brake mechanism with the rock-shaft; a cable connecting said rock-shaft .with the bell-crank lever;

and a swinging spring actuated'pawl, pro-H jecting into the path of the king-pin and overlapping the end of the spring actuated latch when retracted, whereby the latch may be maintained in a retracted position until automatically released to loclrthe king-pin in coupling relation with the trailer by the inward thrust of the king-pin against the pawl. V

5. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, a semi-trailer equipped with legs movable to support the end of the trailer when detached from the tractor, and to a non-supporting position when coupled to a tractor; a king-pin carried by the tractor: means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the king-pin into coupling relation with the tractor; a brakemechanism; a spring actuated latch carried by the. trailer adapted to lock said king-pinin coupling're- 'lation with the trailer; a manually operated bell-crank lever; a rod connecting said lever with the spring actuated latch; detachable means for connecting said lever with the rod,

whereby the lever and rod may be 'adjustably connected to set the brakes and'for manually releasing the brakes without releasing the latch when the trailer is detached from the tractor; a rock-shaft; a rod connecting said brake mechanism with the rock shaft; a cable connecting said rock-shaft with the bellcrank lever; and a swinging spring actuated pawl projecting into thepath of the kingpin and overlapping theend of the spring actuated latch to secure it in its retracted position until released by the hing-pin in effecting a couplingrelation withthe trailer.

6. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers the combination of a semi-l trailer equipped with legs movable to support the end of the trailer when detached from the tractomand to a nonsupporting position when coupled to a tractor; a king-pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide theking-pin of the tractor into coupling relation with the trailer; a spring actuated latch carried by the trailer-adapted to automatically lock the king-pin in coupled relation with thetractor; means for retracting said latch; a swinging :pawl'pivoted to the frame of; the trailer;

means for limiting the swing ng movement of the pawl; a spring actuated bolt slidable in an arm of the pawl andprojecting into the path of the king-pin that it may overlap the end of thelatch when the latter is-retracted; and means for limiting the outward thrust of the spring actuated bolt.

7. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, airing-pin carried by, the vtractor; means carried by the trailer .to receive and guide the king-pinof the tractor into coupling position with the trailer;

" lock carried by the trailer adapted to secure mechanism to release thetra'iler from the the king-pin of the tractorin couplingrelation with the trailer at the end of the coupling stroke;'a brake mechanism for the trailer; means for retracting the locking tractor and to simultaneously set the brake mechanism, of the trailer; means PIOJQClJHIg' int-o the path of the king-pin adapted to -maintain' the lock'in its retracted position and the brake mechanism set, until released by the thrust of theking-pin of the tractor upon again effecting a coupling engagement between the tractor'andtrailer. 8. In-an automatic coupling means. for tractor-trailers, a king-pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the'kingin of the tractor into coupling positionv 'Wlfll the tra ler;

means for lockingithe king-pin ofthe tractor in coupling relation with the trailer at the endof the couplingstroke; a brake mechanism for the trailer; means for'retracting the lo-ckin mechanism to release the trailer from the tractor and-to simultaneously'set the brake mechanism of the trailer; and .v

means for securingsaid locking mechanism in its retracted position and the brake mechanism in its set position until automatically and simultaneously released by the thrust of the king-pin of the tractor directly against thelock holding and brake control mechanism on entering into coupling relation with the trailer 9. In an automatic coupling, means for tractor king-pin in efl'ectingacoupling rela- 10. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, a king-pin carried by the tractor; means'carried by the trailer toree ceive andguide-the kingepinfof the'tractor 1 into coupling relation with the trailer ;a lock for securing the king-pin of the tractor in coupled relation with thetrailer;;a brake mechanism for the trailer ;;means for retract ing the'lo-ck and 'for simultaneously setting the brake, mechanism. of the trailer; and

means for respectively maintaining the lock in retracted position and theo brake mecha-' nism in set position, untilautomatically re leased simultaneously with a transitory increase in the brakeset effected through the thrust of the tractor king-pin, upon uncoupling the tractor. from thetrailer. V f j 11. In an automatic coupling means for tractor-trailers, gthe' combination of a king-' pin carried by the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the king-pin of the tractor into coupling relation with the trailer; a lock and brake mechanism carried by the trailer; means for retracting the lock andsettmg the brake mechanism; means for I mamtamlng the lock in retracted position and the brake mechanism in set position, until automatically released the thrust of the tion between the tractor and; trailer; said lzingapin upon uncoupling the tractor from the trailer serving to' automatically? and to simultaneously retract said lock mechanism] and. to transitorily increase the "brake-set. Intestimony whereof; we sign this specification. V 7 I CHARLES H. AND.

WILLIAM H. WILSON tractor-trailers, a'king-pin carried by'the tractor; means carried by the trailer to receive and guide the king-pin of the tractor into coupling position. with the trailer; a

V lockcarried by the trailer adapted to secure j'theking-pin of the tractor in couplingrelation with the trailer at the end of the'co-upling stroke; a brake mechanism-for the trailer; means for retracting the locking mechanism to release the trailer from the tractor and to'simultaneously set the brake mechanism of the trailer; means projecting into the path ofthe king-pin and overlapping V 

